What: English Premier League
Who: Manchester United vs Newcastle United
When: Monday 16th August, 2010, at 20:00 UK Time
Where: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
Hitting the Ground Running
Manchester United narrowly missed out on winning a record 19th Premier League title last season, as Chelsea proved to be just a little bit more consistent in the run-in. With the club managing to claim only a single piece of silverware by way of the League Cup, the Red Devils will be itching to return to the top both domestically and in Europe, fully aware that a promising start will set the tone for the season.
Injuries certainly weren’t kind to Sir Alex Ferguson’s side throughout the year, having to endure such periods where as many as seven defenders were out, and midfielders Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick needed to be deployed as cover. On the brink of the 2010/11 season however, aside from long-term absentee Owen Hargreaves and expected September returnees Rio Ferdinand and Anderson, the Red Devils’ squad is just about at full strength. Add to that the exciting prospect of Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, and the progress of other youngsters such as Nani, and Ferguson’s side certainly look quite a formidable side.
Out to Prove Premier League Quality
Just a year after the humiliation of being relegated to the Championship, Newcastle United have bounced right back into the Premier League, now more eager than ever to prove that their club deserves to play at the highest level. Their domination of England’s second tier in the 2009/10 season, epitomised by their breaking of the 100-point barrier, shows that the team that was once shrouded in controversy and disarray, are now united in their bid to bring the side back to its rightful place as one of the Premier League’s best clubs.
With manager Chris Hughton succeeding in moulding Newcastle into a squad with a strong bond and tireless work ethic, their Old Trafford hosts will certainly be in for a stern test very early on in the season. It may though be something of a worry that Hughton’s group is very much that which went down from the Premier League when they last graced English football’s top flight.
Recent form
Manchester United:
MLS All-Stars 2-5 Manchester United (29/07; Friendly)
Guadalajara Chivas 3-2 Manchester United (31/07; Friendly)
Chelsea 1-3 Manchester United (08/08; Community Shield)
Newcastle United:
Newcastle United 2-2 PSV Eindhoven (31/07; Friendly)
Deportivo La Coruna 0-0 Newcastle United (03/08; Friendly)
Glasgow Rangers 2-1 Newcastle United (07/08; Friendly)
Key absences
Manchester United: Owen Hargreaves; Rio Ferdinand; Anderson
Newcastle Untied: Alan Smith (doubt); Danny Simpson; Steven Taylor; Dan Gosling
Players to watch
Manchester United – Dimitar Berbatov: The inconsistent Bulgarian showed real promise in pre-season, and should he finally manage to settle in and perform to his abilities, the former Tottenham Hotspur striker will prove a real nuisance for the Newcastle defence alongside Wayne Rooney.
Newcastle United – Kevin Nolan: The former Bolton man successfully recovered from a horrendous start to his Magpies’ career, proving to be the driving force behind Newcastle United’s impressive title-winning run in the Championship. His influence is massive both as a talented midfielder and as a leader, and he will certainly be central to his side’s chances against the Premier League powerhouse.
Match prediction
Newcastle United will be very excited to be returning to the Premier League, but they will certainly not be fancying the prospect of being welcomed back by the wounded Red Devils at Old Trafford. Manchester United endured the pain of narrowly missing out on major domestic and European titles last season, and signs from their Community Shield triumph over Chelsea show that they mean business in the 2010/11 season. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side will face a stern test in Newcastle, but his side will prove to have too much – with a 2-0 win the likely outcome.
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